Many pet owners have long felt that their furry, feathery or even scaly companions have a positive role in their life, and now a team at Markham Stouffville Hospital is doing research to see if it can even have a positive effect on their health.
Researcher Dr. Alan Monavvari, who is the chief of family medicine at the institution, has been given a grant to see what role pets play in the relationship between patients and doctors. The investigation will look into the effect that bringing pets into the discussions between them has on the individual’s overall health.
More than 200 practitioners of primary healthcare, ranging from doctors to social workers, have been included. They each question their patients about any pets that live in the home, and if they have any, how many are there, and what species are they.
Those who participate will complete a survey both at the beginning and the end of the study, and will receive materials to help support them during the research phase. These can be printed by brochure printers.
According to one of the researchers, the thought behind the study is that if the health care provider shows an interest in a person’s animal companions, it can build the relationship between them, with the end result being that the patient is more likely to open up about other areas of their life.
